Lesbian, gay college students more likely to seek therapy than others, study finds

Researchers are finding that sexual minorities are more at risk for mental health problems, but also more likely to get treatment.

A study published this week in the Journal of Adolescent Health by RAND Corporation surveyed 33,000 college students at UC and Cal State campuses.

Of the 33,000 respondents, the study found that 7 percent — roughly 1 in 15 — of the students surveyed identified as being lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer or questioning, according to a statement released by RAND on Tuesday.

The LGBQQ students who participated in the survey reported more stresses and challenges in college than heterosexual students, according to the study. They also said they faced more barriers to getting care.

Bradley Stein, the report's author, told KPCC the study's results would be used to think of better ways to meet the mental health needs of college students and make campuses more open to mental health.

"This is a population that we really need to think about better ways to make sure that they're getting their mental health needs met," he said. "And that's true of college students and continues to be true of LGB students," he said.

Two-thirds of sexual minorities reported they weren't getting treatment. But heterosexual students were even less likely to get treatment, according to the report.

The results were weighted to help reflect the state's overall college student population, according to RAND's statement.